'Incident on Run #1217' is about violence on the CTA by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Incident on Run #1217" from Factory Theater at Prop Thtr ★★★ and "So I Killed a Few People" at The Annoyance Theatre ★★★ NINA METZ rev…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:28pm on May 9, 2013[SHARE]

'TomKat Project' wins spot in Fringe Fest by Nina Metz

(BY NINA METZ) "The TomKat Project," a satiric comedy by Brandon Ogborn that runs through May 29 at the Playground Theater, has been accepted to play at the New York International Fringe Fes…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:28am on April 29, 2013[SHARE]

One mess deserves another in 'Deep Blue Sea' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea" by Kokandy Productions ★★½ and "Tamer of Horses" by Stone Soup Theatre Project ★★ "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea"&nb…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:17pm on April 25, 2013[SHARE]

Face-to-face storytelling for the Facebook era by Nina Metz

Some ironies are so rich they actually make sense. Case in point: "Live lit" events — storytelling at its most low-tech — have become one of the faster-growing entertainment genr…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:48pm on April 19, 2013[SHARE]

'L'imitation' shows no one does drag like Handbag by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "L'imitation of Life" by Hell in a Handbag Productions ★★★ and "Maria/Stuart" by Sideshow Theatre Company ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "L'imitati…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:37am on April 10, 2013[SHARE]

Improv Fest: Subtle mastery from Adsit and Lutz by Nina Metz

NINA METZ REVIEW ... Chicago has long been improv's home base. Much of this is due to the ongoing influence of Del Close, the outsize personality and improv guru (and the subject of at least…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:57pm on April 7, 2013[SHARE]

Improv Fest: One dumb idea can be a lot to work with by Nina Metz

REVIEW BY NINA METZ ... The 2013 Chicago Improv Festival kicked off earlier this week with Craig Cackowski ¿ a veteran Second City performer seen in recent years on NBC's "Community" ¿…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:28pm on April 3, 2013[SHARE]

Just as deliriously messy as a real breakup by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Your Problem with Men" by Teatro Luna at Stage 773 ★★★ and "Tables and Beds" by Chicago Theater Sweatshop ★½ NINA METZ reviews "Your Problem wi…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 7:08pm on March 27, 2013[SHARE]

On all things celebrity, 'TomKat' is genius by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "The TomKat Project" at The Playground Theater ★★★★ and "Kill Shakespeare" at Strawdog Theater ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "The TomKat Pro…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:48am on March 14, 2013[SHARE]

Cooking up confusion in dark comedy 'Brewed' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Brewed" at Theater Wit ★★ and "Reality Recap Reunion" at the Annoyance ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Brewed" at Theater Wit ★★ and "Reality Re…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:48pm on March 6, 2013[SHARE]

What's your take: Comedians working for free at iO by Nina Metz

(BY NINA METZ) There has been debate brewing the past few weeks among comedy performers in New York concerning the issue of pay. Often, stand-up comedians with a certain level of experience …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:49pm on February 21, 2013[SHARE]

Now in 'Fela!,' Michelle Williams never left the stage by Nina Metz

Before the lights went out at the Super Bowl two weeks ago, Beyonce's halftime show included a brief (and not-so-surprise) appearance from her former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:05pm on February 14, 2013[SHARE]

Porchlight delivers a delightful 'Best Musical' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Best Musical!" by Porchlight Music Theatre ★★★ and "185 Buddhas Walk into a Bar" at Studio BE ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Best Musical!" by Porchl…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:05pm on February 14, 2013[SHARE]

Bye Bye Liver showrunners find new home near Wrigley Field by Nina Metz

Seven years after launching the profitable and long-running “Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play,” Pub Theater has acquired its own theater space just a few blocks north of …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:46pm on February 11, 2013[SHARE]

Chicago politics stay all in da' family in 'Successors' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Successors" at Signal Ensemble Theatre ★★★ and "Stadium Devildare" at Red Tape Theatre ★½ NINA METZ reviews "Successors" at Signal Ensemble Thea…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:40pm on January 31, 2013[SHARE]

'Barnstormers' mixes sports, booze and personal anecdote by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Barnstormers" by Drinking & Writing Theater at the Haymarket Pub ★★½ and "Henry Moore is Melting" at the Athenaeum Theater ★★ NINA METZ reviews…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:15am on January 17, 2013[SHARE]

A field guide to hecklers by Nina Metz

The Tribune's Nina Metz and Chris Borrelli debate vocal audience members and break them down by type BY NINA METZ AND CHRIS BORRELLI ... Let's talk about heckling. Who isn't talking about h…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:21pm on January 3, 2013[SHARE]

'Carol' and 'Chimes': Solo Dickens to match your mood by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs 'A Christmas Carol.' Again" at The Building Stage ★★★ and "The Chimes" by Remy Bumppo at the Greenhouse ★a…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:03am on December 20, 2012[SHARE]

The stakes feel dangerously real in 'Long Way' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Long Way Go Down" from Jackalope Theatre at the Viaduct ★★★ and "Foreverendia" at the Athenaeum Theatre ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Long Way Go Dow…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:15am on December 6, 2012[SHARE]

Revelations in a hospital room in 'Breaks & Bikes' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Breaks & Bikes" by Pavement Group ★★½ and "Is This Reel Life?" at the Cornservatory ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "Breaks & Bikes" by Pavement Group …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:37pm on November 21, 2012[SHARE]

Comedy troupe (Long Pause) not missing a beat by Nina Metz

Chicago sketch comedy in its most classic form tends to be a stripped-down affair. Stylistically, it is the opposite of "Saturday Night Live." You won't see elaborate costumes or much in the…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:05pm on November 15, 2012[SHARE]

New North Side venue slated for iO Theater by Nina Metz

The iO Theater is moving. On Friday, owner Charna Halpern purchased a new space for her long-running comedy enterprise, signaling an end to iO's presence in Wrigleyville after nearly two dec…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:51pm on November 9, 2012[SHARE]

'Funeral Wedding' a distinctive kind of gothic by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Funeral Wedding: The Alvin Play" by Strange Tree Group ★★★ and "Music From a Sparkling Planet" at the Athenaeum Theater ★★½ NINA METZ rev…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:48pm on November 7, 2012[SHARE]

Witty writing in 'Questionable Lullabies' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Urlakis & Cusick: Questionable Lullabies" at Stage 773 ★★½ and "In Pigeon House" at The Den Theatre ★½ NINA METZ reviews "Urlakis & Cusick: Questi…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:59am on October 25, 2012[SHARE]

Neo-Futurists' '44 Plays' connects presidents; uneven 'Mistakes Madeline Made' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "44 Plays for 44 Presidents" by the Neo-Futurists ★★½ and "Mistakes Madeline Made" at the Greenhouse ★½ THEATER REVIEWS: "44 Plays for 44 Presidents…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:50pm on October 11, 2012[SHARE]